Charcoal dakgalbi with Mom near Yaksu Station: herb garlic & seasoned

Looking for a good restaurant near Yaksu Station, or a great charcoal dakgalbi place? This time I visited Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi (약수참숯불닭갈비) through Naver Super Members.

I went with my mom, and at Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi we could enjoy seasoned and herb garlic dakgalbi half and half, and the meal menu was filling too, so it was a really happy meal. Here is my honest review after trying it myself.

Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi: the verdict at a glance

Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi was a good spot near Yaksu Station, with dakgalbi that has a subtle charcoal aroma and satisfying meal dishes.

• You can order seasoned and herb garlic half and half
• The seasoning isn't harsh, so it's easy for all ages to enjoy
• Get the flying fish roe kimchi fried rice with added cheese
• Doenjang stew comes along, so the meal finishes on a full note
• At opening time you can eat in relative comfort

Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi location, opening hours and parking

Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi is at 193-6 Dongho-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, 1st floor, a one-minute walk from Yaksu Station Exit 10. Hours are 14:30–23:00 on weekdays and 13:00–23:00 on weekends and public holidays. For parking, use the paid lot in front of the restaurant or the Dasan public parking lot.

How to find the restaurant from Yaksu Station Exit 10

It's about a one-minute walk from Yaksu Station Exit 10, so Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi was easy to get to. The location works well for a dinner after work or a meetup, and it looked like a good option for people hunting for a meal near Jangchung Arena or Namsan too.

Is Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi busy at opening time?

I arrived right at opening and it was fairly quiet at first. As time went on, though, customers started trickling in one by one and the place quickly came alive. If you want to eat in peace, I recommend going at opening time.

What we ordered at Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi and the side dishes

Here is what my mom and I ordered.

• Half-and-half charcoal dakgalbi (seasoned + herb garlic)
• Flying fish roe kimchi fried rice on a hot plate, with added cheese

The basic side dishes at Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi were ssam vegetables, aged kimchi and radish wraps, plus vegetable skewers to grill. It was a great lineup to eat with the dakgalbi, and we could start the meal with nothing lacking.

Half-and-half charcoal dakgalbi: seasoned vs. herb garlic

The dakgalbi at Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi arrives pre-grilled over charcoal, so at the table you only need to grill it a little more. The subtle charcoal aroma rose appetizingly while it cooked, and ordering half and half made it fun to compare the two flavors.

Seasoned charcoal dakgalbi

The seasoned dakgalbi had a sweet sauce with charcoal aroma added, so the savory depth was great, and it wasn't spicy, so it was easy to enjoy. Of the two, my mom liked the seasoned dakgalbi best, and I'd also recommend it first if it's your first visit. The charcoal aroma blended naturally with the sauce and went well with rice.

Herb garlic charcoal dakgalbi

The herb garlic dakgalbi had a subtle herb scent and a clean, mild flavor that left an impression. It's cleaner in style than the seasoned one, so alternating between them let us feel the difference, and we never got tired of it. If you prefer mild dishes over strongly seasoned ones, I think you'd like it.

Kimchi fried rice with flying fish roe and cheese, plus doenjang stew

After the dakgalbi, we added cheese to the flying fish roe kimchi fried rice on a hot plate. The portion was generous even for two to share, and the cheese softened the kimchi's spiciness, which made it a great way to finish the meal.

Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi also served doenjang stew (soybean paste stew). Its rich, savory taste was nice to alternate with the dakgalbi, and it was just the right way to wrap up the meal.

Downsides of Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi

Because it's a charcoal restaurant, you may notice a bit of smoke at Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi. That's something you can expect to a degree with charcoal grilling, and it wasn't bad enough to seriously get in the way of the meal.

Who should try Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi?

• People looking for a dakgalbi place near Yaksu Station
• People who like dakgalbi with a lively charcoal aroma
• People looking for a place to eat with parents or family
• People who want a filling fried rice finish
• People looking for a company dinner or group gathering spot near Yaksu Station

Final thoughts on the Yaksu Station dakgalbi restaurant

Yaksu Chamsutbul Dakgalbi was a place where I could comfortably enjoy dakgalbi with a subtle charcoal aroma. Ordering seasoned and herb garlic half and half let us compare the two flavors, and with the flying fish roe kimchi fried rice and doenjang stew, the meal was satisfyingly filling.

Personally, the seasoned dakgalbi, not harsh yet full of savory depth, was the most memorable, and it was also my mom's favorite. If you're looking for charcoal dakgalbi near Yaksu Station, it's an easy place to visit, and choosing the half-and-half lets you enjoy both flavors, so I'd recommend it to first-timers too.

Star ratings

• Charcoal aroma/taste ★★★★☆
• Side dishes ★★★★☆
• Restaurant atmosphere ★★★★☆
• Waiting at opening time ★★★★☆
• Willingness to revisit ★★★★☆